Erik ten Hag’s tenure at Bayer Leverkusen has come to a swift end, just two months after his appointment.
The 55-year-old manager was relieved of his duties following a disastrous start to the Bundesliga season, which saw his team suffer a 1-2 defeat to Hoffenheim and draw 3-3 against Werder Bremen, despite significant investment of nearly €200 million this summer.
Ten Hag was brought in to replace Xabi Alonso, who left for Real Madrid, but his time at Leverkusen has turned into another failure after his previous dismissal from Manchester United in October 2024. The club’s interim management will now rely on his assistant staff to navigate the turbulent waters ahead.
In search of a new head coach, Bayer Leverkusen aimed high, targeting Xavi Hernandez. According to reports from Marca, the former Barcelona boss received two offers from the German club but turned them down, feeling the project did not align with his aspirations.
Xavi Says No Twice
With Xavi out of the picture, Leverkusen faces the challenge of finding a suitable coach quickly to revive their fortunes after this chaotic start to the season. The pressure is on to secure a leader who can steer the vice-champions back on track.
The club’s management is now on the hunt for a new coach to restore confidence and performance levels, as they aim to bounce back from this rocky beginning and meet their championship ambitions.